Chilly End to 2015 Mardi Gras Season

During Haiti's Carnival, at least 16 people died when a man atop a parade float apparently contacted a power line.

Feb 18, 2015

Fat Tuesday and the end of 2015's Mardi Gras season brought unusually cold temperatures to New Orleans and southern Louisiana (along with much of the eastern United States), but the carnival season proved to be deadly in Haiti.

CNN reported that at least 16 people died during Haiti's national Carnival parade in Port-au-Prince from electric shock when a power line apparently contacted a man riding on a float. In addition, 78 people were injured.

According to the CNN report, Haiti's president, Michel Martelly, tweeted, "My sincerest sympathies (are) with the victims of the grave incident this morning at the Champ de Mars celebrating Mardi Gras Carnaval."

Parades and celebrations ended at midnight Feb. 17, giving way to Ash Wednesday and the season of Lent.